Bays survive tournament opener, Lady Vikings

CHASSELL – Dollar Bay High girls basketball coach Steve Krahling figured the Baraga Vikings would be a tough out in an opening round Class D district tourney game Monday night.

“We had two tough games with them (Vikings) this season,” Krahling said after his team squeezed out a 39-36 win at Ed Helakoski Memorial Gym. “I feel fortunate to get out of here with a win tonight.”

After trailing by 12 points at the halftime break, Baraga roared back in the second half with strong defense.

BHS even took a shortlived 34-33 lead midway through the final quarter on a hoop from Jenna Heikkinen.

That was when Dollar Bay’s do-it-all player Julia Daavettila stepped up.

The CCC Player of the Year, dropped in a basket to put her team ahead to stay at 35-34. Then, she had her hand in two big defensive plays to keep the Vikings at bay.

The final one came with 6.9 seconds when she picked off a pass intended for a three-point attempt.

“We had the (three-point) shot set up,” Baraga coach Daryl Putala said afterward. “But we never got it off because they (Bays) made a big play.”

Daavettila got the winners off to a fast start by sinking two triples to begin the game. Coupled by five points from center Meagan Kangas, it was enough to give the Red, White and Blue a 13-4 lead at quarter’s end.

Carli Daavettila canned six points in the second frame as DBHS took its aforementioned 28-16 halftime spread.

But Baraga center Gabby Mayo began to get loose in the third period as the Purple and Gold narrowed the deficit to 33-27 at quarter’s end.

Krahling said his team was aware of Mayo’s work under the hoop.

“She’s strong under the basket, makes good moves and is tough to defend,” Krahling said. “Meagan (Kangas) did a good job on her, but she still got loose.”

The 16-5 Bays, who will face Ontonagon at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a semifinal match, were paced by Julia Daavettila with 16 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.